Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Can J Aging. 2010 Sep;29(3):399-410. doi: 10.1017/S0714980810000371. Epub 2010 Aug 6.
Despite the fact that Meals-on-Wheels have both nutritional and social aspects, research on the social objectives of the service is lacking. This study set out to develop an understanding of the social objectives of Meals-on-Wheels and to explore the extent to which they are met by Ireland's Meals-on-Wheels services. A literature review suggested that Meals-on-Wheels services can potentially meet three social objectives: (a) providing meals recipients with social contact, (b) helping to restimulate an interest in meals and regularising mealtimes, and (c) helping to develop acceptance of the service. Interviews were conducted with 66 meals recipients to explore these themes and augment them as necessary. Study results show that meals recipients derive limited social contact from the service; regularising mealtimes was not important to most recipients; and many were reluctant to accept the service. The three objectives are therefore minimally met within the Irish system at present.
尽管送餐服务具有营养和社会方面的双重意义，但针对该服务的社会目标的研究却相对匮乏。本研究旨在深入了解送餐服务的社会目标，并探索爱尔兰的送餐服务在多大程度上实现了这些目标。文献回顾表明，送餐服务可能可以实现三个社会目标：（a）为用餐者提供社交联系；（b）帮助重新激发对用餐和定时用餐的兴趣；（c）帮助接受服务。通过对 66 名用餐者进行访谈，探讨了这些主题，并根据需要进行了扩充。研究结果表明，用餐者从该服务中获得的社交联系有限；定时用餐对大多数用餐者来说并不重要；许多人不愿意接受这项服务。因此，目前在爱尔兰系统中，这三个目标只得到了最低程度的满足。
